Bottle-capping machine



Nav. 11, 1930. G. w. SWIFT, JR 1,731,036

I BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Nov. 11,'1930. G. w. swlFT, JR 1,781,036

' BOTTLE CAPPI'NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 V5611 lw,

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Nov. 11, 1930. G. w. SWIFT, yJR 1,781,036

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Nov. l11, 1930. G. w. swlFT, JR 1,781,036

BOTTLE CAPPING' MAQHINE V Filed Nov. 1e. 192e e sheets-sheet 4 I El- 5:I Z0 'MMom/wi v Mw,

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Nov. ll, 1930. u G. w. swlFT, .JR ,781,036

BOTTL-E- CAPPING MACHINE l 'Mo/(M www@ 1% w www Nov. Al1, 1930. s. w.SWIFT, JR l 1,781,013'6 BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT yol-l-lcEGEORGE W. SWIFT, JB., OF BOBDEN'TOWN, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOE BY MESNE.ASSIGN- MENTS, TO BOTTLE CAP PATENTS COMPANY, 0F BOBDENTOWN, NEWJERSEY, .ACOR-` POBATION F NEW JERSEY BOTTLE-cunard 'MACHINE Applicationmed November 18, 1928. Serial No.l 319,837.

The primary ob]ect of my invention is to provide an improvedvconstruction and arrangement of parts in a machine of this characterwhereby caps may be rapidly se arated from the bottom of a cap-holdingopper, positively controlled during their movements into cap-applyingposition with vrespect to successlvely-presented bottles and accuratelyapplied to said bottles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cap-feeding slide o'fimproved construction wherein a suction gripper is em-- ployed foreffectively controlling a cap while it is being separated from bulkpreparatory l to its movement into cap-applying position under thepositive control of said slide.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification, theparticular features of construction appertaining thereto being recitedin the claims in reference to the accompanying drawings which show apreferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle-capping machine constructed inaccordance with` the princi es of my invention, the cap feeding slidebeing shown in retracted position andfwith the table in lowered positionwhile a cap is being applied-to a bottle.

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation of the machine showing the slide inits advanced position and with the table in elevated position.

Figure 2a is a top plan view of the plunge operating bracket detached.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the machine with the parts arranged asshown in Figure 1. Y

Figure 5 is a section on the vline 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a verticalse'ction of the lower portion of the machine withthe parts in their positions shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a similarvertical section of the machine with the partsshown in their ositions corresponding to that shown in `ig ure 2.

Figure 8 is a section onl the line 8-8 of' Fi re 7.

igure 9 is a. section on the line 9--9 of Fi re 7.

igure 10 is a vertical medial section through the left hand portion ofFigure 9. Figure 11 is an enlarged section on the line 11-11 of Figure1.

Figure 12 isa section similar to Fi with the parts shown in changedpositlons.

Figure 13is an enlarged horizontal section corresponding to the line13-13 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is an enlarged horizontal section corresponding to the line14-14 of Figure 1. Referring more particularly to the drawlngs,laterally spaced uprights 1 and 2 serve to mount a cross frame orbracket 3 which isV secured to said uprights by means of set screws 4.As shown in Figure 5, the cross frame'3 is provided with two sets ofoppositely arranged guideways or grooves 5 with- 1n which arereciprocably mounted crosshead slides 6 which are provided'withoppositely presented track bars 7 which reciprocate in the grooves 5.Each of the cross-heads is connected by a web or neck 8 to a tubularhopper 9 which'is provided with an enlarged block or foot l0, as shownin Figures 6 and'8. Said block or foot is secured to a feed table 13 bymeans of screws 12 which pass through a base flange 11 of said block orfoot and are threaded into said feed table. Each feed table is movablevertically in the manner to be hereinafter pointed out and is providedwith an opening 14 for accommodating the neck of a bottle presented toreceive a cap.

The lower limit of movement of the table 13 is determined by atransverse bracket 15 which is secured to the uprights 1 and 2 by meansof set screws 16. As shown in Figure 6, the table 13 is provided with atubular connection 17 through which extends a portopening 18, theconnection 17 being connected to a vacuum tube 19 to adapt the table toyieldably retain a cap above the port-opening 18. The table 13 isprovided with a rearwardly presented extension 2O which is reinforced bylongitudinal ribs 21, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. Reciprocably mountedupon the table 13 lis a` slide 22'which, as shown best inFigures 1, 4and`7, is provided with a forwardly resented abutment 23 adapted tolimit the orward movement of said slide when it is brought intoengagement. with a shoulder or abutment 24 which is presented downwardlyfrom the extension 20. Suitable means for limiting the rearward movementof the slide 20 may be provided by. a fixed stop or flange 25. The capfeeding slide isprovided with a top plate 26 which, as shown` in Figure5, is provided with an arcuate recess 27. lSecured to the top plate 26is a suction platev 29 which-is held in position by screws 30 andprovided with a suction port-opening 31 which is adapted during theforward movement of the slide to be brought into communication with theportopening 18 leading to suction pipe 19. Presented forwardly rom'theslide 22 are laterally spaced cap controlling fingers 32 which duringthe forward movement of the slide are adapted to project over thecircular flange of a cap which is being moved forwardly intocap-applying position. Arranged below the fingers 32 and projecting fromthe forward end of slide 22 are laterally spacedy cap supporting. pins33 which, as shown in Figure l0, are adapted to pass beneath thecircularflange of the forwardly dis laced cap.

eferring more especially to Figure 3, the slide 22 haslaterallypresented portions 34 which are provided with upwardlypresented slots, theslotted portions carrying, pivot pins 35. Laterallyspaced connecting links 36 are pivotally mounted at one end. upon thepins 35, the other ends of said links being connected by pins 37 to thelower ends of laterally spaced bell crank levers 38'which are pivotallymounted at 39 and provided with arcuate slots 40 in their shorter armsfor receiving laterally presented pins 41` carried by connecting links42. Said links 42 are pivotally mounted at their upper ends upon pivots42 carried by the deflected bracket arms 43. The bracket arms 43 arerigidly secured `,to vertically reciprocable rods 'or plungers 44 whichhave their lower ends embedded in the cross heads 6. The upper ends ofthe rods 44 are slidably mounted in the laterally presented arms 45 of atrian 11- v larvbracket 46, said triangular bracket being provided witha boss47 which is rigidly secured to the upper lend of a power drivenplunger 48 which reciprocates vertically.

Secured to the upper end of each of the rods 44 and .limiting thedownward vdisplacement of said rod with respect tothe bracket arm L4 5,is a collarl 49. 'A helical'spring 50 which is interposed between eachbracket arm 45 and the bracket 43, tends to retain the collar 49 inabutment with the bracket arm 45. Se-

cured to the lower' end of each of the plungers 44 by means of a screw.51, is a cap-applying disk 52I which operates within a cylindricalchamber 53 formed within the bottom 'block or foot 10 of the hopper.Each of the tubular hoppers is provided with upwardly presented springclips 54 for the reception of suitable vstacking receptacles 55. lAsshown in Figures 1, 3, 6 and 14, a pair of oppositely arranged arcuatestraps 56 are secured tothe outerA wall of the hopper 9 by means ofscrews 57. A series of` screws 58, mounted in outwardly bent portions ofthe straps 56, serve as pivots for cap-holding levers 59 which areprovided at their lower ends with cap engaging claws 60. Said levers, asshown best in Figures'll and 12, are provided at their upper ends withcam arms 61 by means of which saidcap holding levers are adapted to bemoved radially inwardly l and outwardly within diagonal slots 62 (seeFigures 3 and 9) for successively releasing one cap and engaginganother. Movable axially on the outer wall of each of the cap hoppersare cam segments 63 which are provided with axial slots 64, throughwhich extend screws 65 for y connecting said segments to the hopper 9.

The lower ends of spring clips 54 constitute fixed abutmcnts forlimiting theupward movement of the cam segments 63 with respect to thehoppers 9. Each of the cam segments 63 is provided with an inwardlypresented bevelled cam-surface 66 which is adapted to impart an inwarddisplacement to the cam arms 6l of the cap holding levers 4, moving theclaws 60 out of stack supporting position at such times as the camsegments are displaced downwardly'upon the hopper walls 9. A normaltendency to retain the cap holding arms in stack supporting position isimparted by a coil spring 67 which, as shown in Figure 8, extends aroundthe lower end of the hopper and embraces the lower arms of thelevers-59. The ends of coil spring 67 are secured by a screw 68v to thehopper wall. `Suitable means for effecting a downward displacement ofthecam segments 63 at times when the cap feeding slide is in its forwardposition to receive a cap released from the v'lower end of the column,may be provided in the form of stops or bracket arms 69 which aresecured to the cross frame or bracket 3. A cap thus deposited uponthefslide in its forward position is the retraction of said sllde fromits position shown -1n Figure 7, the cap is intercepted by a dependingVrod or guard 71 which sweeps the released cap fromthe slide and permitsofthe slide, the 'laterally-spaced fingers 32. which are presentedforwardly therefrom-V .yieldably held thereto by suction and during 'lprevent an undue lateral displacement of the cap while permitting saidcap to drop little by little into position over the suction opening 18.As shown in Figures 9 and 10, Aa

. pair of laterally spaced spring arms 7,0 are Operation As shown inFigures 1 and 6 of the drawings, the cap-feeding table is in loweredposition with the neck of a bottle presented within the opening 14. Thecap-applying plunger- 44 has just completed its downward or capapplyingmovement. During this movement, the cap-conveying slide has beenretracted and the next cap in order to be released from the stack hasbeen swept from the slide by the depending rod 7l.' This cap is held bysuction in the path ofthe slide on its next inward movement. As thecross-head 6 moves upwardly for this purpose, the cap-applying plungeris lifted while the pins at the lower ends of the connecting links aremoving upwardly in the arcuate slots 40with which the short arms of thebell-crank levers 38 are provided. An inward movement of the slidefollows, the detached bottom cap which is held in position by suctionbeing picked up by said slide and presented above the mouth of the nextvessel which has in the meantime reached a suitable position to receivethe cap on the next downward movement of the cap-applying plunger..During the progress of this movement ofthe capteeding slide, however,the, movable cam segments are brought into engagement with the iixedbracket arms 69 which produce an actuation of the cam-actuatedcap-retaining levers, moving them to release position and permitting thecolumn of caps to rest upon the table. At the commencement of thedownward movement'of the main driving crosshead and cap-applyingplunger, the cam-segments are moved away from the iiXed bracket arm andthus permit the cap-retaining levers to be drawn inwardly by the helicalspring 67 into position to support all but the lowermost cap in thecolumn. With the several parts in their relative positions shown inFigure 7, the main driving cross-head moves downwardly, the cap-feedingtable being eventually arrested in its downward movement by the tixedbracket l5. The pins 41 at the lower ends of the connecting links nowmove downwardly in their respective arcuate slots while the cap-applyingplunger begins its cap-applying movement. As soon as the lost motionbetween the connecting links and bell crank levers has been taken up thecapfeeding slide moves to its outermost position operatin@r lower end ofsaid hopper, said slide v in readiness for another cycle of operations.

1. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a vertically-movabletable provided with a cap-stacking hopper mounted thereon, said hopperbeing provided with an outlet at its lower end arranged to dischargeycaps onto said table, cap-retaining levers mounted on said hopper,means yieldably holding said levers in cap-retaining position, camsoperated by the upward movement of said hopper for moving saidlevers torelease position, and a reciprocable slide on said table for moving thecaps from the lower end of said hopper to cap-applying position.

2. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination ot a vertically-movabletable provided with a cap-stacking hopper mounted l leased caps from thelower end ofsaid hopper to cap-applying position.

3. In cap-applying mechanism, the combi'- nation with a hopper for caps,said hopper being provided with a downwardly-discharging outlet, of acap-feeding table arranged below said hopper and provided with asuction-opening, and a reciprocatory slide on said table between saidtable and the being provided with means for controlling the delivery ofcaps oneat a time, from said hopper to said suction-opening and for mov-'.thereon, said hopper being provided with a ,discharge outlet at itslower end spaced above ing said caps from said suction-opening intoposition to be applied to bottles. ,l

4. In cap-applying mechanism, the combination with a hopper for caps,said hopper being provided with a downwardly-discharging outlet, of acap-feeding table arranged below said hopper and provided with asuction-opening, a reciprocatory slide provided with a port-openingmovable into and out of position between said suction-opening and theoutlet opening of saidv hopper, said reciprocatory slide being providedwith means for moving said caps one at a time from the bottom of saidhopper and into position to be applied to bottles. y

5. In cap-applying mechanism, the oombination with a hopper for caps,said hopper being provided with a downwardly-discharging outlet, of acap-feeding table arranged below said hopper and provided with asuction-opening presented toward the discharge outlet of said hopper,and means for delivering caps one ata time from said hopper to saidsuction-opening in the table, saidmeans,`

including a reciprocatory slide which moves said caps from saidsuction-opening into position to be applied to bottles.

6. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a cap-feeding tableprovided with a vvacuum-opening adapted to grip a cap by suction, acap-stacking hopper provided with a discharge outlet at the bottom, acap-feeding slide reciprocable on said table below said' hopper, saidslide being provided with means for controlling the delivery of a capfrom the bottom of said hopper to the vaeuum-port opening in saidcap-feeding table and with other means for engaging a cap previouslydeposited over the vacuum-opening in said table and moving it intoposition to be applied to a bottle. 7 In a bottle-capping machine, thecombeing adapted at its forward end to engage a cap previously depositedover the vacuumopening in .said'table for moving the lastmentioned capto bottle-Capping position.

8. In a bottle-capping machine, the combin ation of a cap-feeding tableprovided with a vacuum-opening ada ted to grip a capby suction, acap-stacking opper provided with a discharge outlet at the bottomarranged opposite to the vacuum-opening in said table, a cap-feedingslide reciprocable on said table I below said hopper, said slide beingprovided with a port-openingmovable into and out of Y position betweenth vacuum-port opening in let oi?Y said hopper, and a depending fingerAapplying position.v i

said cap-feeding ta le and the discharge outinterposed in the path of acap covering the port-opening inisaid slide during its retractingmovement for delivering said capito the suction-opening in said table,said s @de be-` ing adapted at its` forward end to engage 'a cappreviously deposited over the vacuumopening in said table for moving itinto ,cap-

9.-In a bottle-capping' machine, the combination of a vertical vhopper.discharging ldownwardly at 4its lower end, a table extendingbelow saidhopper and provided with a cap-gripping suction opening, a slidereciprocable on said table, and provided with a port adapted to form aconnecting through-way between said suction-opening in the table andsaid hopper, means for sweeping a cap from said slide during theretraction thereof, i

for sweeping a can from said slide during the retraction of said slide,said table being 'adapted by the suction-opening 'therein to rip the capas it drops from the slide, means liior raising and lowering said tablefor the admission and retraction' of bottles before and after thecap-applyingoperation, and

provided with a means operated by the upward movement of said table forreleasing a cap from the bottom lot said hopper. f i

l1. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a verticalcap-hopper dischargingv downwardly at its lower end, a table extendingbelow said hopperl and provided with a cap-gripping suction opening, aslide reciprocable on said table and provided with a port adapted bycommunication with said suction-opening in thetable to grip a cap at thebottom of said hopper, means for sweeping a cap from said slide durinthe retraction of said slide, said table being adapted by thesuction-opening therein to grip the cap as it dropsl from the slide,means for raising and lowering said table for the admission andretractionA of bottles before and after the capapplying' operation, andmeans operated by the upward movement of said table for releasing a capfrom the bottoi'n of said hopper.

12. In a capapplying machine, the combination with a cap-holding hopperopen at the bottom and provided with releasable capsupporting means, ofa cap-feeding table provided with a vacuum port-openingpresented towardsthe open bottom end of said hopper, means for operating saidcapsupporting means for releasing caps one at a time from the bottom ofsaid cap-holding hopper, and a slide reciprocable on said table belowsaid hopper, sai-d slide being .provided with a port-opening movableinto and out of capgripping position between the lower end of saidhopper and the vacuum port-opening in said table, and means for sweepingthe cap from said slide during its retracting movement, said slide beingadapted at its next forward movement to move they displaced cap i intocap-applying position.

v 13.v In a cap-applying macl1ine,fthe'com bination with a cap-holdinghopper open at the bottom and provided with cap-support-y yingcam-levers, of 'a cap-feeding table prollo vided with a vacuumport-opening presented towards the open bottom end of said hopper, meansfor raisin and lowering said capfeeding table, a slide reciprocable bythe rise and fall of `said table, said slide being provided with aport-opening interposable between the lower end of said hopper and thevacuum port-openingin said table, means for discharge-o ening spacedupwar ly from said feed-ta le and above said suction orifice,

. a reciprocatory'slide movable on said feedtable and between it andsaid hopper, said slide being provided with means for drawing a cap fromthe bottom of said hopper, durin the retracting movement of said slide,an means for sweeping a cap from said slide during the retraction ofsaidslide, said slide being rovided with -means for engaging said cap uringits forward movementr and moving it to bottle-capping position.

15. In a bottle-capplng machine, the com bination of a feed-tableprovided with a suction orifice, a hopper for caps, said hopper beingprovided with a downwardly-presented 4discharge-'opening spaced upwardlyfrom said feed-table, and in coaxial alinement with said suctionorifice, a reciprocatory slide movable on said feed-table and between itand said hopper, said slide'being provided with a port-opening movableinto and out of registry with said discharge-opening and suc- `tionorifice, means for releasing caps one at a time from the bottom of saidhopper, and

means for sweeping a cap from said slide during its retracting movement,said slide being provided with means for engaging said cap. and movingit to bottle-capping position on its forward movement.

16. In a bottle-cappin machine, the combination with a fed-tab eprovided with a suction orifice, of a hopper for caps, said hopper beingprovided with a downwardly-v presented discharge opening spaced up-lwardly from said feed-table,a reciprocatory slide movable on saidfeed-table and between it and said ho per, said slide being providedwith' meansor displacing the bottom ca:

during the orwar movement of-said slide.

17. In a bottle-capping machine, the combinationl with a feed-table, ofa hopper for to said feed-table an lope caps, said hopper being providedwith ,a downwardly resented discharge opening spaced upwar y from saidfeed-table, areciprocatory slide movable onsaid feed-table I and betweenit and said hopper, said slide being provided with a suction orificemovable into and out of registry with said dischargeopening-means forreleasing caps one at a time from the bottom of said hopper, means fortiming the operations of the cap-releasing means with respect to thereciprocatory movements of said slide, and means for sweeping a cap fromsaid slide during the retraction of said slide, said slide bei-ngprovided with means for engaging said cap duringits forward movement.

18. In a cap-feeding mechanism, the, combination of afeed-table, ahopper for caps, said hopper being provided with a bottom opening spacedabove said feed table, a slide reciprocable between said bottom openingof the hopper and said feed-table, said slide being provided 'with a,suction gripper adapted to, grip a cap during its retracting movementand to loosen said cap from 'the bottom of a columnof caps in saidhopper, means for limiting the retraction of-/said cap by said slide,the continuing retraction of said slide being adapted to (permit the capto drop in the path f said slide on its next forwardv movement.

19. Inla cap-feeding mechanism,`the combination of a feed-tablefprovidedwith a suctionv opening, a hopper or leaps, saidho per being rovidedwlth an opening at the ttom dis osed above said suction opening in thefee table, a slide reciprocable between the opening at the bottom end ofsaid hopper and said feed-table, said slide being provlded with aport-opening movable into and out of registry with said openin ,andmeans for displacing a cap from sai slide durin the retracting movementof the slide, sai displacing means being adapted to locate the' adaptedto move said cap to bottle-capping position during its next forwardmovement.

- 20.In..a cap-feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed-tableprovidedwith a suction opening, a hopper for caps, a slide reciplrocable between the bottom end of s aid hopper and said feed-table, saidslide being provided with means adapted-to loosen caps one at a timefrom the bottom of a stack of caps in said hopper, and means cooperatingwith said slide during its retracting movement for depositing theloosened cap upon said suction 1n the feed-table, said slide beingadapte vto move said cap from the suctionopening during the next forwardmovement of said slide.

21. In a cap-feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed-table rovidedwith asuction opening, a hopper or caps, said hopper being open at thebottom and dis osed above saideed-table, a slide reciprocal le betweensaid hopper and feed-table, said slide being provided with'aport-opening movable into and out of registry with said suction openingsin the table,said slide: being thereby adapted to grip the bottom cap insaid hopper,

and means for moving a cap fromsaid slide said hopper and saidfeed-table, said slide being provided with a port-opening movable intoandout of registry with said suction opening in the table and thev openbottom of said hopper, means for vreleasably retaining a column of capsin said hopper, said means being adaptedto release said caps one by oneat the bottom on to said slide, and a bar or finger arrangedabove'saidslide and in the path of a cap during the retracting movementof the slide, said slidebeing provided at its forward end withcap-engaging means whereby acap which has been displaced from the slideto be gripped by the suction opening in said feed-table .may be moved tobottle-capping position.

23. In a cap-feeding mechanism, the combination of a cap-holding hopper,said hopper being provided with means for releasing caps one at a timefrom thebottom of said hopper,`

a slide reciprocable below said hopper, said slide being provided iwitha suction gripper for retracting the released bottom cap and means forsweeping said released cap from the slide during the retracting movementof said slide and into the path of said slide on its forward movement.

24. In a cap-feeding mechanism, `Athe co'mbination of a cap-holdinghopper provided with a discharge outlet at the bottom, a slide providedwith a suction-gripper, said' slide being reciprocable below said hopperand adapted to grip successive bottom caps during its 'retractingmovements, means for sweeping said caps from said slide, means forreciprocating said slide, and means operated by saidslide-reciprocatingmeans for releasing caps one at atime from the bottomof said hopper.V

25. In cap-feeding mechanism, the' combinationwith a cap-stackinghoppe'i` provided with a downwardlypresented discharge outlet, a-vacuumtube provided with an up- `wardly-presented opening arranged below andspaced from the discharge outlet of said cap-stacking hopper, and I areciprocatory slide arranged between said discharge outlet and theupwardly-presented opening ofsaid vacuum tube,said slide bein providedwith a vacuum port-opening mova `le into and out of communication withthe opening into said vacuum tube whereby said slide is adapted to gripand release the bottom ca-p in said hopper.

26. In cap-.feeding mechanism, the com-A bination with a cap-stackinghopper providedV with a downwardly-presented discharge outlet, a slidereciprocable across said discharge outlet, said slide being providedwith a vacuum' port-opening whereby it is adapted to grip the bottom capin said hopper, meansfor controlling the suction in said vacuumport-opening, and means timed-with the movement of said slide forcontrolling4 theA release of successive bottom caps from"I said hopper.

27. In a cap-applying machine, the com'- bination of a cap-feeding tableprovided with an upwardly-presented vacuum portopening, acap-holdinghopper provided with a downwardly-presented discharge outletarranged above and spaced from said vacuum port-.opening in the table,and a slide vreciprocable on said table between said discharge outlet ofthe cap-holding hopper and the vacuumport-opening in said table, saidslide being provided with a port-opening movable into and out ofcommunication'with said vacuum port-opening in the table whereby it isadapted to grip a cap discharge outlet of said cap-holding hopper.-

28. In a capapplying machine, the combination of a cap-feeding tableprovided with discharged from the A I an upwardly-presented vacuumport-openk ing, a cap-holding hopper provided with adownwardly-presented discharge outlet arranged above said vacuumport-opening in the table, a slide reciprocable on said table below saiddischarge outlet of the cap-holding hopper, said slide being providedwith a port-opening movable into and out of com. munication with saidvacuum port-opening in the table whereby it is adapted to grip a capdischarged from the discharge outlet of said cap-holding hopper, andmeans arranged inthe pathor` said cap during the retraction.,

of said slide for sweeping the cap froml said slide in ay position tolbe uum port-opening in said table.

. 29. In a cap-applying*` machine, the com-V bination of a cap-feedingtable provided with .an upwardly-.presented vacuum port-open-l grippedby the -vacing, a cap-holding hopper provided with adownwardly-presentedl discharge out-let arranged above and spaced fromsaid vacuum port-opening in the table, a slide reciprocable on saidtable between said' discharge outlet of the cap-holding hop er .and theyvacuum port-opening in said ta le, said slide beingprovided with aport-opening movable into 4and outvof communication with said vacuumport-opening in the tablewhereby itis adapted to grip a cap dischargedfrom the discharge outlet of said cap-holding hopper, andlaterally-spaced ca -controlling fingers presented forwardly om saidslide, said capcontrolling fingers being arranged beneath the cap-flangeand on opposite sides ofthe crown of said cap during the outwardmovement of said slide.

lo GEORGE W. SWIFT, JR.

